A progressive religious organization is buying airtime for a new radio ad targeting an energy conglomerate in five Southern states. The spot lowers the boom on Southern Company, the top energy company in the southeastern U.S., for its lobbying efforts opposing climate change legislation in the works on Capitol Hill. The ad will run in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Florida.
It is the latest effort by Burns Striders' American Values Network, which last week teamed up with a coalition of military leaders and religious Democrats, including Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Tom Perriello (D-Va.), in a radio ad blitz on Christian radio stations. The group seized on the results of a new poll showing support for action on climate change among religious voters.
The new ad highlights the efforts of Congress and faith leaders on climate change legislation, but the background music turns ominous as the narrator turns to Southern Company, which "has unleashed an army of lobbyists to fight the faith community and threaten lawmakers working to provide resources to American families and the least of these among us."
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Southern Company has spent over $98 million on lobbying over the past ten years, including over $3.6 million so far in 2009.
Top recipients of Southern Company cash are Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga. ) and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), who received $85,600 and $80,015, respectively, according to the CRP.
LISTEN:
Here's a script of the ad:
The Gospel of John teaches that evildoers operate in dark places, hiding their deeds. But those who do what is right, do so in the light.
As Congress begins work on climate legislation to protect God's creation, a great assembly of church leaders are backing a bill that supports working families and the poor, provides rebates directly to consumers to offset rising energy costs.
But Southern Company, the energy conglomerate that owns Alabama and Georgia Power has unleashed an army of lobbyists to fight the faith community and threaten law makers working to provide resources to American families and the least of these among us.
Why? Because Southern Company wants all the money instead.
Please join the faithful in speaking out against the powerful. Call 877-88-CLIMATE to tell your Congressman to support the Waxman-Markey Climate bill that helps everyone, not just the energy companies. Paid for by American Values Network.org.